Under the Gunn: Can They Fill Tim's Shoes?

Tim Gunn is at it again, though this time he's running the show. Project Runway's new spin off "Under the Gunn" is hosted by none other than the man himself. His new show takes everything he loves about Project Runway and give a new little twist.

Three established designers are being given the chance to mentor four new designers each. This competition will play out much like Runway with challenges being issued and one designer being eliminated each week. The designers are fighting for a prize package, but so are the mentors. If a mentor runs out of designers they too will be out of the competition.

The first two episodes were simply rounds of picking teams. The designers were split into two groups,  given a challenge to complete in six hours and also had a chance to meet with the mentors part way through their work. The goal, to prove themselves worthy to be in a mentor's group. While the fifteen designers worried about making it into the final twelve, the mentors got to have a look at portfolios and see how each designer worked under pressure.

So far I'm still more interested in the mentors than the designers, but then again two of them were favorites of mine from past seasons of Project Runway.

Mondo Guerra, has been a favorite of mine since pretty much the begging of season 8 of Runway. I didn't always like the looks he made but they were always interesting. I was included in the hordes of fans who though he got cheated out of winning his season, to the boring but oh so retail ready Gretchen. In turn I was ecstatic to see him return in the first season All Stars and take the big win. He has his own line of eye wear through SEE Eyewear in stores across the country, and will be releasing designs in collaboration with Crocs this year. Though as much as I love to cheer Mondo on there is another face that I have been waiting to see return.

Nick Verreos,  was my favorite to win in season 2 of Project Runway.  Which just happened to be the first season I ever watched of my now favorite fashion show. Sadly he didn't even make it to the finals, but that didn't stop the man. He's had several celebrities wear his work, including Katy Perry, Beyonce, Eva Longoria, and Carrie Underwood. I've been sad that he hasn't been in the ranks of the All Stars, but that could be because he's been teaching at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in L.A.

Finally rounding out our mentors we have Anya Ayoung-Chee. A former Miss Universe contestant and the winner of Project Runway Season 9, Anya is a fan favorite for many people. I like her work, but she was a real under dog on her season. She barely ever finished her looks and until the last few challenges they were often very similar. She does however have two of her own clothing lines that started in the Caribbean, PILAR (her women's wear line) and ANYA DE ROUGE (A lingerie line).

I'm curious to see how these three compete with one another since they themselves won't be designing but rather playing Tim's role to these new designers.

Back to the new group of designers. I haven't picked any favorites yet. There are a few I'm curious about and some I already can't stand. I am however going to try and stay open minded, at least until I see a little more of their work. The real competition is after all just starting.

I just hope this doesn't turn into one giant cry fest. I mean in the first two episodes everyone was already crying! The designers cried fighting for their spots. The Mentors cried feeling for the designers. Even Tim cried! I do not want to watch a weepy bunch of artists. I can do that on my own.

That all being said Tim has yet to let me down so far. I'm looking forward to seeing this all play out.